Israel’s Square
Denmark
Israels Plads with the adjacent Torvehallerne is today a meeting point for CPH foodies. There has been a farmer’s market here since the strict no building policy of the walled city ended in the 1890s until the 1950s. Then the entire area became a huge parking lot.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Israels Plads, or Israel's Square, a masterclass in modern Danish urban planning and landscape architecture. Located right in the pulsating heart of Copenhagen, this massive public space represents the successful…
Listen in the app2The Flying Carpet Concept
Focus your attention on the ground beneath your feet and the edges of the square. This is the defining architectural feature of Israels Plads: the 'flying carpet.' The architects essentially laid down an enormous, continuous…
Listen in the app3The Market Edge and Torvehallerne
Turn your gaze toward the eastern edge of the square, where the granite carpet seamlessly meets the glass pavilions of Torvehallerne, Copenhagen's premier culinary market. This adjacency is not coincidental; it is a restoration…
Listen in the app4The Sunken Urban Playground
Move toward the center of the square, and you will notice the granite carpet dramatically dips downward to create a massive, sunken arena. This is the active, kinetic heart of Israels Plads. …
Listen in the app5The Water Features and The River
As you continue exploring the topography of the plaza, look for the subtle integration of water features. A shallow, artificial river-like channel cuts across a section of the granite, mimicking the meandering path of a natural…
Listen in the app6Historical Layers and The Name
Pause for a moment to consider the profound history embedded in the name 'Israels Plads.' Before 1968, this area was known simply as the Green Market. The name was officially changed by the city of Copenhagen to commemorate the…
Listen in the app7The Border with H.C. Ørsted Park
Walk to the western edge of the flying carpet, where the hard, geometric granite meets the soft, organic boundary of the historical H.C. Ørsted Park. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our exploration of Israels Plads, take a final moment to appreciate the sheer audacity and success of this urban intervention. Transforming a massive, unloved parking lot into a beloved civic heart is no small feat. …
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What is Israel’s Square?
Israel’s Square is a place in Denmark with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Denmark |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 56.2639, 9.5018 |
| Last updated |